Fear the Walking Dead Ep. 212 Pillar of Salt
All is not well in Colonia as evidenced by then daring escape at the top on Pillar of Salt, the latest episode of Fear the Walking Dead. While things may not be ideal in the compound, it doesn’t mean that it’s any safer out on the streets. The episode sees Ofelia‘s return and as has been the custom in recent episodes with other characters, viewers were treated to a flashback from her past. Ofelia had a life outside of her family before the apocalypse and her escapades with Madison and the others appears to have brought her full circle.
Lingering resentment at the hotel leads to some bizarre behavior and some tension among the survivors. It’s been touched upon somewhat on the show but the mental strain placed upon those still alive during the apocalypse comes to the fore this week. Hanging on to sanity for some can be challenging even in a so called normal world. With society turned upside down it’s surprising that there haven’t been more depictions of mental illness or instability in a world filled with trauma and little to no logic.
Some interesting power dynamics are in play on Fear and the complications associated with them are leading to some interesting developments. Heavy is the head that wears the crown and there are several characters struggling under the burden of leadership. With society in chaos and the legitimate power structures in ruins individuals have filled the power vacuum, sometimes willingly and sometimes not.
While Fear the Walking Dead may disappoint some as a straight up zombie show, it really triumphs as a drama. The interpersonal conflict between the characters drives the narrative and Pillars of Salt was no exception. It features some great scenes particularly one between Alicia and Madison which not only features both character’s strengths but also their weaknesses. Since returning from its mid–season hiatus, Fear’s narratives has splintered somewhat with the central characters going off in different directions. This has been an effective choice as it’s given everyone a share of the spotlight and some room for character development. Pillar of Salt may not be one of the most gripping episodes of the series but it pushes the level of drama into new territory and sets things in motion for what could be a satisfying conclusion to the season.
